Frankel to examine palliative care Thursday in Pittsburgh

By Release May 12, 2010, 3:33 pm 0 Edit

HARRISBURG – Chairman Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) announced today that the House Majority Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on palliative care in Pennsylvania from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at The Children’s Institute, 1405 Shady Ave.

State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, requested the hearing and will serve as co-chairman.

Frankel said he believes most Pennsylvanians agree that young people with life-threatening illnesses deserve the best care possible, including doing everything possible to ensure that their physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs are met. The hearing will explore ways that state laws can change to help ensure young people, as well as people of all ages, could access crucial services to help mitigate the pain they experience during illness.

Speakers will include a panel from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Dr. Steven Docimo, vice president of medical affairs, and Carol May, manager of Supportive Care Program; Meghan Murphy, parent of palliative care patient; Nancy Zionts, chief program officer, Jewish Healthcare Foundation; and Dr. Robert Arnold, director of the Palliative Care Service, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

For more information about the Policy Committee visit pahouse.com </a.

The hearing is open to the public.